No losing feathers. Although there are feather eating mites out there but I don't think they are common in Minnesota. It's an easy place to detect mites though because it is warm and moist there. You spread the feathers and all the little pin point dots will scatter. And you can usually diagnose mites and lice by doing this check in this area.

I lost a different leghorn to molt this year. She just kind of sat down and gave up. She wouldnt eat or drink and just wasted away. I moved her to her own pen and gave her water and tuna and she wouldnt even that.

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She might have had an underlying condition. Or just a failure to thrive -- genetically not strong to handle the stress of a molt. Sometimes I think the hatchery stock has these issues. Sorry to hear that kloppers. Crazy.

She might have had an underlying condition. Or just a failure to thrive -- genetically not strong to handle the stress of a molt. Sometimes I think the hatchery stock has these issues. Sorry to hear that kloppers. Crazy.

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She was hatchery stock and 2 years old. Not ancient by chicken standards but as a production strain I know they don't breed for longevity. She was all feathers and bones at the end. We had just introduced a few new birds to the flock around then too so maybe some stress issues or jockeying for feeder spots.